Jenn Widder
Name:Jenn Widder
Starting Weight: 254 lbs
Eliminated Weight: 223 lbs
Hometown: River Edge, NJ
Favorite cheat food:Cheetos—I like to call them "Cheesy Puffs"
Goal for '08: To go back to Camp Shane and be thin
1.) What was your big turning point -- either during the show or before that made you realize you needed to lose weight?
Jenn: My biggest turning point, or my rock bottom moment was this summer. A camper came up to me and told me that I was a beautiful person but that I needed to lose weight. No one had ever been that blunt about my weight to my face; hearing that made me realize that I cannot continue to be an Asst. Director for a weight loss camp and be overweight; it just didn't make sense.
2.) If you could go back in time, would you go on the show with the same weight-loss buddy? Why or why not?
Jenn: If I could go back in time, I would have still asked Maggie to go on the show with me. Maggie pushes me to my limits and then some; she is not only my best friend, but one of the best motivators I know.
3.) Who worked harder at losing weight—you or your partner? Tell us why.
Jenn:I feel Maggie and I both pushed ourselves incredibly hard. I don't believe nor think either of us worked harder than the other.
4.) What do you think your biggest weight-loss obstacles will be now that you're dieting on your own?
Jenn: My biggest obstacle now is that at the ranch we were all doing this together; working out, being sore, eating right, icing our aches and pains, etc. Now, it is all me—everything I put into my week is me. It's hard not having anyone to fall back on who understands what I am going through.
5. ) Who do you think will make it to the end of the show and why?
Jenn: If I had to make a guess on who will make it to the end of the show, I would guess Roger, Trent, Jay, and Mark. From day one, the black and grey team had formed an alliance. For some reason, alliances were broken on my end and I believe that those two teams are strong and can take it all the way.
6.) What is one thing that happened behind-the-scenes that no one would know from watching the show?
Jenn: One thing no one would know from watching the show is that Dan does awesome impressions of Bob. He literally had me rolling on the floor laughing at how well he can imitate what Bob says and does.
7.)What advice can you give other people who are hoping to lose extra pounds?
Jenn: My advice for someone who wants to lose weight is that there is no, "magic pill, Monday diet, or perfect time to start." If you want to lose weight you just need to start; once you see results you will stay motivated to continue.
8.) What strategy did you use to try and stay on the show? Why don't you think it worked?
Jenn: My strategy for the show was to form an alliance with the original blue, orange, and yellow team during all vs. one week. For that week, the alliance worked. For a reason I do not understand, it didn't continue to work the next week.
9.) Do you think anyone was portrayed unfairly on the show?
Jenn: I believe Maggie and I were portrayed unfairly the night of the pink team elimination when Kelly said, the reason the purple team fell below the line so much is because we don't work hard enough. Not only did that comment kill our morale, but it was not true. Maggie and I work just as hard, if not harder, than every team and our disadvantage is that we were a girl-girl team who have been yo-yo dieting for the past 11 years. How can you tell someone they aren't working hard enough when they pull a 7 lbs and a 3 lbs to keep their butts safe from elimination?
10.) Did anyone act differently when the cameras were off?
Jenn: I don't believe anyone acted differently when the cameras were off. I really felt that with our cast, "what you saw was what you get."
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Posted by Michelle McIvor on January 29, 2008 02:22 PM
I, too, had issues with the game play that happened the week the pink team got voted off. I was so happy when the black team earned immunity and put a damper on the master plan to vote them off. Unfortunately, my favorite team was voted off in thier place. It appeared that your team along with the blue and orange teams were involved.
However, that being said, I absolutely thought you and Maggie were working hard all the time. I also wish you the best of luck. I think you are beautiful and are on your way to being amazingly beautiful.
More importantly, I sense that you are a sweet and caring person.
Keep up the great work and looking forward to seeing you on the finale.
Posted by: Jenny | January 30, 2008 01:33 PM
I didn't like the idea of throwing the weigh in. The yellow team should have been sent home and the pink team should still be there. That should not be allowed. It back fired for them when the black team gained immunity.
Good luck and keep up the good work.
Posted by: Beverky | January 30, 2008 07:49 PM
Be so proud of yourself. I have never had a weight problem, but I have a sister who is extremly over weight. Putting yourself out there to get a healthier life gives people like her the motivation to do the same. Keep up the good work!
Posted by: Lorna | January 30, 2008 10:18 PM
I was sorry to see you voted off. I don't agree with the whole elimination process. I believe that one of the yellow team should have been sent home since she lost nothing and he gained 3 lbs. Good luck hope you prove them wrong.
Posted by: Dawn | January 31, 2008 09:13 AM
Jenn: I'm so proud of you; and i felt your pain on your elimination date. Keep up the good work and remember you make the difference.
Posted by: Sandra | January 31, 2008 10:16 AM
Jenn - I am so sorry about your elimination - I felt that with the weight that you lost it should have been one of the old yellow team that should have gone home instead of you. I have been rooting for you since the beginning. And I hope that you are still doing good even though you are away from the campus. I am proud of you and hope you the very best of everything in life - you a beautiful young lady with lots of potential as well of lots of living to do. Best wishes always.
Posted by: Kevin | January 31, 2008 10:32 AM
What is all the yellow team bashing? Why should one of them have gone home? Truth be told, overall, the yellow team has lost more than Jenn & Maggie has lost - regardless of how hard anyone is working. It is a "game" and right now, as a team, the larger losers need to stay to keep the team from the elimination room. In the end, when it comes closer to the finish, that's when the larger losers are elminated, as they are the biggest threat. I personally feel the orange team can't be trusted. From how it was portrayed, they were the instigators in the week where the weigh in was thrown. I found it funny that the black team ended up with immunity - but thought it not fair that pink had to go. Oh well....it's a game.
Posted by: jujubee2222 | January 31, 2008 12:33 PM
I really are upset for not keeping you on the show...I feel the ones to be run out were either PAUL that instead of losing he gained!!!...or KELLY that didn't lose a lb. at all!...Apart from all of this Im a BBW lover, so you were amazing at the show starts as you're now!
Posted by: Manuel | February 4, 2008 07:01 PM
Hi Jen. I'm sorry you got voted off. I went to camp shane 5 years ago and you taught my aerobics class then. It was the best step aerobics ever. I wish you big success in trying to get the weight off once and for all.
Posted by: Jen | February 5, 2008 01:11 PM
i am so sorry that you got voted off keep doing what you are doing i will see you in the final
Posted by: Jennifer Presby | February 5, 2008 05:55 PM
Jen,
I know you will keep going. You have the movtivation and the drive. You give me inspiration in many different aspects of living. You give me drive, hope, and desire to be my true self.
You may have been voted off, but you are voted exceptional in my book. Keep up the good work!
Posted by: Diane | February 5, 2008 10:27 PM
Hey Jen -
I thought you did amazing. You've been a real streanth for me. I'm trying to lose weight this year too. I know yo'll keep doing great and be back on the end of the show! Keep going Jen!
Posted by: Austen | February 6, 2008 12:56 AM
Though it was SUPER unfair that the pink went, your elimination was one of the few times i did not approve of karma.
Posted by: joe | February 13, 2008 04:05 PM
Though it was SUPER unfair that the pink went, your elimination was one of the few times i did not approve of karma.
Posted by: joe | February 13, 2008 04:05 PM
Though it was SUPER unfair that the pink went, your elimination was one of the few times i did not approve of karma.
Posted by: joe | February 13, 2008 04:05 PM
Jen, I know you can keep up the weight loss! I was really pulling for you to stay on there...just keep at it at home and you're gonna be awesome! You are a great inspiration...I just wish I could get motivated to do what you are doing!
Posted by: Lyndse | February 17, 2008 07:38 PM
Jenn - Am I crazy or did I see you at the Target in Reston, Virginia today (3/24/08)?
Posted by: Kristina | March 24, 2008 01:59 PM
Jenn,
I would love to talk to you about Camp Shane. I have wanted to send my daughter who is 12 and have been very nervous about it.
Posted by: naomi | April 10, 2008 09:05 PM
Jenn,
I would love to talk to you about Camp Shane. I have wanted to send my daughter who is 12 and have been very nervous about it.
Posted by: naomi | April 10, 2008 09:05 PM
Jenn,
I would love to talk to you about Camp Shane. I have wanted to send my daughter who is 12 and have been very nervous about it.
Posted by: naomi | April 10, 2008 09:05 PM
So, I am checking my son into Camp Shane yesterday for the very first time away from home and what made him stop being afraid? Jenn was at the check in table! That was our show to watch and he knew who she was and wanted that team to win so bad. For him to be greeted by her was amazing. She was so kind and let me take a photo of her and my son. To a young boy he feels like he is camping this summer with a celebrity! Jenn looks great too! You can really tell how hard she has been working!!! We did not recognize her at first because she looks alot different from losing so much weight. she was pretty before though :) I am so glad I chose Camp Shane for my son!!!
Posted by: Kristin | June 26, 2008 08:42 PM
I'm sorry you were cut when you felt that you needed to be there.
But I feel you and Maggie portrayed yourselves unfairly when there was talk of you guys tampering with that elimination so that the yellow team could send home the black team.
I don't know what happens with editing and when the cameras are off ... but from what I saw and what the recap showed ... they said that they wanted to see more numbers, bigger potential numbers from you. NOT that you weren't working hard enough. If you're working with Bob or Jillian, EVERYONE knows you're getting your butts kicked.
Posted by: miranda | January 30, 2008 10:07 AM